The Irish standard., 1887-01-29

interrupted passion, gaping on us op
ponent, his limbs shaking audibly be-
meath him, his arms still extended. and
his fists clenched, until a sudden change
came over his person. The hot anger
that filed him exuded in cold anG
chilling sweat-a sickening sensation
crept through his breast-a hard throb
bling struck painfully through his brair
and mists aoated before his eyes
through which the form of the coiner
who still kept the weapon steadily pre-
sented, seemed by degrees to acquire 9
Satanic grandeur and indistinctness o1
outline. The youth relaxed his closed
hands, and endeavored, while he still
stared like one spell bound into the bore
of the pistol, to catch at some support
.sLet us lose no time," said the man,
making Kumba start with sudden
gasp of fear at the first sound of h1e
voice. s'Coom, sirl Are you for us, O,
against us?"
''Spellacy!. .Spellacy!'. NUT
tered Kumba, in low and listless tone
But Suil Dhuv did not answer him.
'.Wance for all, say, will you be wit
uz?"
81 am alone! am unarmed! am be-
trayed!'' Kumba again murmured, in q
tone so expressive of after agony, that
it touched the heart of Jerry
"Murther, murther in Irishl o the
poor lad!' he exclaimed, ''let him think
a little"
Again the query was repeated, and
again Kumba neglected to answer. The
man vented an oath, and cooked the
weapon. ''Is it game you're maken?"
he asked fercely.
mo. IN. no! I do not insult
you. I. no. /. .Spellacy, hurry.
hurryl.. =. .stayl...... One moment!.. .Ah!
Spellacy, is it all come to this?"
"spsllacy can't help you, STRIP said
Suil Duiv. ''but you can help yourself. -
.'Choose betune Yes and NO.
for that's all the arguing we'll hear
from you."
A long silence ensued. while Kumba
made an effort to take the election. He
endeavored to set his frame, and stand
more erect-a short, painting terror-a
swift glance at his past life-a sudden
and gloomy fear-a doubtful prayer
and an instant and cheering resolution
to make last compensation by dying
for the right-all glanced in rapid sue
cession through his mind. When the
question was repeated he set his teeth
hard-and said through them, hoarsely
but firmly, ':Neverl'
At the same instant, tall, ungainly,
struggling figure darted between both,
struck up the pistol-and fled into the
darkness near the door. Kumba heard
it open aud shut.
"Why then, bad cess to you, Nancy
exclaimed the coiner-ttwait till--''
Before the sentence was finished Kumba
seeing hls advantage, sprung upon the
speaker, levelled him upon the earth
with a despairing blow, and planting
one foot upon his baeast, wrenohed
the pistol from the unconscious fingers
of his victim. He was in q posture of
vigorous and vigilant resistance before
one of his enemies had recovered from
their astonishment. Setting one shoul-
der against the press. and bending his
frame SO as to concentrate all his strength
and elasticity, he remained glancing
from face to face, and watching the
motions of all with that exquisite in
stinct of vigilance to which extremity
awakens the senses. A vigorous strug-
gle ensued. The coiners began to hem
him closely round-and few missiles
-sods of turf-pieces of loose iron, or
timber were flung at him from the dark
ness. The more dangerous missiles,
however, fortunately were not numer-
ous-the peat-sod he scarcely felt. and the
few blows he received from the heavier
weapons were not Immediately or deeply
and as none of the gang ap-
peared inclined to tempt the first fire of
his single weapon, he began almost to
entertain hopes Of being able to capu-
late, when he heard somebody scrambling
on the press over him, and saw Suil
Dhuv's eyes glisten with appreciation
as he looked in that direction. In an
instant he received blow on the crown
of the head, which made the room ap-
pear all wrapt in one. red fame, and
then as instantly enveloped in total
gloom. His skull felt as if it were about
to dissolve upon his shoulders. His
arms dropped-his heart swung and
in his bosom, and all was dark
ness.
s.Ha! ha! ha!'' chuckled the white
haired rufian, as he endeavored to de-
scend from his hold-"I thought hadn't
Lost tha knack Of IT, Wit. Ouiet an aiZV.